W-League History

Archie likens Marco to Messi

The buzz surrounding Harry Kewell's arrival at Melbourne Victory has helped keep the hype from forming around one of the club's other signings, Marco Rojas - but Archie Thompson is likening the Kiwi teenager to two-time World Player of the Year, Lionel Messi.

The buzz surrounding Harry Kewell's arrival at Melbourne Victory has helped keep the hype from forming around one of the club's other signings, Marco Rojas - but Archie Thompson is likening the Kiwi teenager to two-time World Player of the Year, Lionel Messi.

Rojas arrived at the club from Wellington Phoenix soon after the last Hyundai A-League season and has spent the past six months impressing his new team-mates with his pace, precision and particularly his ability to beat opponents one-on-one.

Thompson has taken the 19-year-old of Chilean heritage under his wing and can barely contain himself when he talks of his potential.

"He's a huge, huge talent. I'm taking him under my wing, like I did with Robbie (Kruse)."

"Hopefully down the track when he has made all his millions, he can remember the guys that looked after him," Thompson joked.

But there is every sense of seriousness in Thompson's voice when he talks of the qualities Rojas can bring to the team.

"He makes it looks so easy. Just his speed and because he is such a little fella, he reminds me a lot of Messi and how Messi's low gravity can help him turn on a dime and create things. He's great with both feet," he said.

"He's not quite at that level but the characteristics of how he plays is like Messi. He's got a huge, huge career in the game."

And while Thompson was taking the chance to talk up Rojas' prospects, he also feels Kewell will have an enormous effect on the team.

"We all know that Harry is a superstar and to have him back at our club is amazing and it's only going to boost our support," he said.

"There will be a lot of focus on Harry and a lot of teams will be basing their game around Harry, because everybody knows what he can do on the pitch. That takes a lot of pressure of us other players."

"If we can all share the load, I think we've got enough talent in this side to go very far this year."

Kewell arrives at Melbourne with a very polished image off the field as well as on it. But Thompson was scared to share some memories of Kewell which may take some shine off one of Australian football's most glamorous men.

"What really stood out for me was the mullet that he had," Thompson, who is not scared of an outrageous hairstyle himself, said. "It was a disgrace, and I'm glad he's fixed it now."

"One time I was billeting with him in Sydney and he had a big shrine to Elvis, which I'm hoping that he's got rid of as well."